FMKK

I didn't watch the pre-show and skipped the Brandi match that everyone said was terrible but I found this to be a relatively easy watch. The main event was too long for sure but it would've been a great match if they've have even just shaved 5 minutes. The extended finishing sequence was too extended. I didn't think the Page match was too bad and I can understand why they made the booking choices they did but I do think a more decisive win would have been better for him given the push he's receiving. I also agree with Dave that he really needed to cut a promo after the Jericho brawl. Most interesting thing for me about these shows is seeing who is getting over as the upper midcard acts. We knew who the superstars would be going in - Jericho, Omega, Moxley, Bucks, Cody - but seeing guys I was less familiar with getting increasingly over as these shows go on has been refreshing. To me, MJF, Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus and Darby Allin are the standouts among that group and I'm excited to see them on weekly television.

Natalya must have the longest run in this company without ever getting over

Becky needed Shayna to be called up months ago

He has the look that they like and he can work ok but he's just absolutely devoid of charisma for me. If they want to put him over Taker then fine but his absolute maximum is a B-show challenger for a babyface champ between big programmes.

Big E would be amazing and would make me ten times more interesting in Summerslam than I would be otherwise

The whole thing was built around Rousey, Lynch and Flair. One is gone, one has been in a dead end feud with a green wrestler for three months and one barely appears on television.

One of the most draining things about WWE TV that doesn't get mentioned enough is that most people just interact with the ones they're feuding with every week, so you're completely bored and worn down by the pairings. Why can't Reigns do a fun 6 minute match with someone lower on the pecking order that he hasn't worked with before and then do a promo on Shane afterwards? Instead we get variations on the same tag matches forever.

Apparently they're putting out a sit down interview with Spears and Jim Ross for the first Road To All Out YouTube show so maybe it was to do with the filming for that?

New Japan announced shows in Chicago, Philly and New York for autumn with seemingly no ROH involvement.

It's not really John's fault that they had no way of keeping those fans around after he was starting to phase out. He held up his part of the bargain by getting them in in the first place. The follow up is on Vince, not him.

Mox vs Omega is the biggest thing they're building to right now but I think Cody has come off as the biggest star so far in both shows, from the entrance to the way he carried himself to the way he works in the ring. I know people love Omega but I still think his facial expressions are sometimes too goofy to be taken seriously and, although he can do lots in the ring, I wouldn't be surprised if after six months of TV with a more casual audience, Cody and Moxley have eclipsed him as the stars of the promotion.

So, Paul E's still got it?

For the second show in a row I think Cody had the match of the night. The storytelling, with him being more powerful than Allen but unable to put him away, was done well and I enjoyed the extra touch of the hand injury to Cody which allowed for the odds to be evened. That apron bump was absolutely sadistic and the bodybag bit was a cool visual. The draw was a good way to put over the resilience of Darby while still being clear that Cody is ahead of him in the hierarchy. There's definitely enough there that they could go back to this and have something of a programme in future. The ethical issues with the following angle have been discussed to death but taking that out of it, it was very effective in achieving what it was supposed to. Spears looks sick and they're set to have a personal rivalry. Cody is 2/2 for strong matches in AEW and I expect another with some strong videos to flesh out the angle. I wouldn't necessarily have had MJF out as part of the crew helping him to the back though. 4*

I'm finally watching this - just about half way through the main now - and I agree with those saying the Cody match was the best yet again. Guy has just become a really good storyteller in a business where that sometimes seems like a lost art because workrate matches have taken precedence. The following match was the perfect example of that.

It's worth remembering I guess that this was a sold show for that CEO event so maybe that is part of the reason that it was catered for the attendees in particular. Of the four shows they've done/have scheduled, it's clear that this was the minor one so I don't think I'll get carried away with any judgements on it positive or negative. I still have enough optimism that the next two will be good. Cody and Dustin vs the Bucks is a match I'm quite looking forward to.

If they tell a good story with the Cody and Spears thing then I'm happy enough with it, although he is the epitome of a WWE reject. There's plenty of material for them to build something good up and like yourself, I've grown to trust Cody as a big stage performer in these storyline driven matches.

Dave is saying that advertising Bischoff was an error but Vince might want him to be there now just due to how prominent the news became

Probably true but the difference there is that AEW will have more mainstream exposure by being on TNT so in theory should have grown their audience by the time they're on their second go-around to the various arenas.

Cornette running Raw and Russo running Smackdown is what 2020 needs. Or maybe they'll pick up Dixie Carter.

I know, I was just joking around that Hogan being back might end up going well for him

At least he'd get another run on top as the evil Russian doing jobs to Hulk

How many weak ratings do they need to pop on Fox before Eric is on the phone to Hogan?

This is interesting. HHH presumably playing the long game and just biding his time until he gets to be the saviour.

There's disgusting carny bullshit, then there's about five levels of bad shit beneath that and then there's this

The Bischoff news is pretty wild imo. It would be interesting to know to what extent this is a desperation move, a XFL move or a loss of faith in HHH.